Chapter 168: Stone Throw Tactics
The group chatted idly for a few moments before dispersing, each going about their own tasks.
Anse originally wanted to recruit Makaria, but seeing her money-grubbing expression, he decided not to say anything more.
The Filu Mercenary Group is mainly composed of Tieflings and is quite united; recruiting Makaria alone is unlikely, but with his and the Federation’s financial resources, they couldn’t afford to support the entire Mercenary Group.
‘Still no money, huh.’
At that moment, Kalenno suddenly rushed over with a grim expression: “The Amn Army has broken camp.”
Anse frowned, stood up and went upstairs to the corridor window, taking out the 「Far Sight」 to observe the situation.
The Amn people were still ten kilometers away, just starting their march, heading straight toward Dulag.
“Thieves never quit! Notify Giant Tail to lead his team to guard the South Gate.”
“Got it.” Kalenno turned and left.
Anse didn’t dare to be careless; the Amn people must have come prepared, possibly with some trick up their sleeve.
The Amn Army numbered over two thousand, mainly infantry, with only one hundred-man cavalry unit, followed by over a hundred large wagons loaded with supplies, escorted by several hundred auxiliaries.
From afar, they looked vast and imposing, with fluttering banners like a tide of gray-black surging toward Dulag, still quite oppressive.
Their march was completely undisguised, and news quickly spread inside and outside Dulag.
Refugees and commoners outside the city all fled into the city to avoid being captured as slaves by the Amn people; this wasn’t anything rare.
The Dulag guards assembled, progressively sealing the four gates and entering military control, with the main force gathering at the South Gate, already prepared for combat.
Residents inside the city buzzed with discussion; newly arrived refugees were panicked and uneasy, while local residents and adventurers carried on eating and drinking as usual, merely keeping some attention on the battlefield situation.
No helping it; the new President’s battle record was too brilliant.
The Amn troops of over a thousand, the Black Dragon, the Mind Flayer, foreign nobles, the werewolf disaster—one by one, he had dealt with them all, as if there was nothing he couldn’t handle.
By comparison, an army of just over two thousand seemed nothing special.
Just past noon, the Amn Army was about to arrive at the city walls, but they feinted and turned northeast.
Judging by the direction, they were clearly heading for Jacqueline Castle.
Jacqueline Castle was located on a small hill three or four kilometers east of Dulag, with beautiful scenery; the surrounding orchards and farms were all private property of the Jacqueline family, with no outsiders.
Marching in this direction couldn’t possibly just be passing by.
At the Federation headquarters, Anse put down the Telescope, his expression gloomy.
‘I want to see if you really have that strength or if you’re just trying to harass us!’
He gave Kalenno a few instructions, cast Fly, and shot straight into the high altitude, then rapidly flew toward Jacqueline Castle.
The guards at Jacqueline Castle had also noticed the situation, sounding the alarm, closing the City Gate, and entering combat readiness.
By the time Anse arrived, Illyas was hovering above the castle, gazing from afar at the menacing Amn Army.
“They’re coming for us.” Anse stopped beside her and handed her the 「Far Sight」.
Illyas took the Telescope, held it to her eye, and chuckled lightly: “As far back as I can remember, no one has ever dared to besiege Jacqueline Castle; it feels pretty novel.”
“The Amn people are looking down on us.” Anse laughed heartily.
If the Magic Net hadn’t failed, if Stol hadn’t died, the Amn people absolutely wouldn’t dare do this.
A 16th-level advanced Sorcerer plus a 17th-level peak Warrior could easily crush two or three thousand common soldiers. Especially the 17th-level Warrior, known as Mortal Peak, Quasi-Legendary Professional, charging in with their body—commoners couldn’t even touch them.
When the cost outweighs the gain, the calculating Amn people wouldn’t act foolishly.
“Give me a bit more time, and I’ll make them pay.” Illyas raised her eyebrows, her tone unkind.
For a Sorcerer to master Mana Casting, they had to start from the beginning, ring by ring; she currently had fewer than ten spells she was proficient in, her Casting Ability far inferior to before.
The Magic Net was just too convenient, greatly reducing spellcasting difficulty; without relying on the Magic Net, spellcasting difficulty increased more than fivefold, making it extremely hard to master.
“Take me with you when the time comes.” Anse sat on the Flying Carpet next to her. “How many soldiers does the castle have? What’s the defensive capability?”
“Guards number one hundred, Knights and auxiliaries over seventy each; the walls are high and thick, but without magic protection; the Magic Array only has Detect and alert capabilities,” Illyas said softly.
“One to nine in troop numbers; the risk is still quite high?” Anse played with Illyas’s hair, somewhat puzzled.
The cost of a strong assault on the castle was very high; if casualties were too heavy, Jacqueline Castle and Dulag could join forces to strike and ensure the enemy wouldn’t return.
“Don’t get careless; the Amn people are especially good at countering Spellcasters and have recruited many famous advanced Professionals,” Illyas warned.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t lived enough yet.”
As they spoke, the Amn Army had approached the foot of the hill, but instead of advancing up, they split into six routes to surround the small hill, setting up camp on the spot in a stance to besiege and starve out the enemy.
The small hill where Jacqueline Castle stood wasn’t large, oval-shaped, no more than three hundred meters high, and very gentle; two thousand men were enough to completely blockade it, with no way in or out.
Anse and Illyas exchanged a glance, their expressions doubtful.
“A siege? The castle’s reserves are ample enough to hold out for months.” Illyas frowned slightly.
“I alone could cut off their supplies.” Anse laughed incredulously, unable to figure out what the Amn people were up to.
Both he and Illyas could fly, and he had an Otherworldly Space; logistics were no issue.
On the contrary, the Amn Army had many men traveling far; their supplies definitely wouldn’t last long, and if they relied on manpower transport, they would face aerial Blockade from the two of them.
From his observation, the Amn Army had only brought a few light small-caliber Cannons, not enough to breach Jacqueline Castle’s City Gate.
“There must be a trick.” Illyas controlled the Flying Carpet to gain altitude, using the 「Far Sight」 from above to carefully observe the enemy’s situation.
Anse certainly knew this; the Amn people weren’t idiots.
The enemy had a troop advantage; in this situation, Dulag and Jacqueline Castle couldn’t possibly fight them in open combat.
But a siege could only confine the two of them in the castle; to kill them, they either had to breach the walls or lure them out.
“Thinking it through, there are still many ways to breach the city: poisoning, Spells, explosives… and some kind of Alchemy weapon.” As Anse spoke, he suddenly remembered the Mechanist Organization that cooperated closely with the Kingdom of Amn.
“You… keep that little mouth shut.” Illyas said irritably.
Hearing Anse say that, she inexplicably felt a bit uneasy, as if her castle was already on the verge of collapse.
“Haha, the Amn people aren’t as smart as me, because I’ve always been the winner.” Anse teased. “But we can’t just wait for them to act; it’s too passive. Better to strike proactively and catch them off guard.”
“How?” Illyas flipped her palm and took out that Anti-magic Arrow. “They must be prepared; if we’re not careful and fall into the enemy camp, we’re probably done for, and the Jacqueline family ends here.”
“Fly higher and drop stones down.” Anse said with a straight face.
“Huh?” Illyas’s watery eyes were full of surprise; she thought it was some clever plan, but it was so “simple.”
“Just Stone Throw, a conventional tactic.” Anse smiled faintly.
Stone Throw has been a common warfare tactic since ancient times: used to defend cities, siege with stone throwers, rolling stones in mountain warfare, slings in hunting; most large Size Monsters have throwing skills.
Javelin and Flying Axe are evolutions of Stone Throw, aren’t they?
For other Spellcasters, carrying heavy stones into the sky and dropping them—missing the target, then fetching more—was tiring and ineffective.
But Anse had Otherworld space and Dragonhide Pouch; dropping stones was easy.
‘Add a little extra to theirs…’
